OH has fractured femur - not a good situation

Thanks MiniMoon. How did I manage not to add that contact to my post?

I have read the entire thread Lucky. Although I haven't commented yet, the appalling treatment your poor husband is suffering needs to be highlighted.
I do so hope that he is moved today, with as little upset as possible.
Hugs from me to you both.

CQC contacts page: www.cqc.org.uk/contact-us

Lucky, I'm so angry for you and your husband. I can only hope for an improvement when he moves to the new facility. Have you considered contacting the Care Quality Commission about the poor care your husband has received? They ought to know about this kind of mis-management.
When he is safely out of their clutches, here is the contact for the CQC.

Am so sorry Luckygirl it is hell and obviously should not be happening under any circumstances, to any human being. No one knows how bad it is until they are confronted with it first hand. Please try and get some support for yourself, other than daughters, who must also be suffering with you. I hope things improve when he moves and you manage to get some rest. I was almost driven to taking a video of my mum & posting on line when similar happened to her, but didn't because it would have infringed her rights & dignity.

Oh Lucky, just do not know what to say. This is beyond appalling and sad, and such an ordeal for you all.

TBH I would print this 'diary' and also send a copy to Jeremy Hunt and Mrs May- and the BMA too, and one of the national papers. But of course, you won't have the time or the energy right now. This is just terrible. Hang in there, hugsxxx

Someone mentioned "bring back matrons".
My friend, whose daughter was an NHS consultant, always said you could tell by how a ward was run how effective the sister in charge was.
In my experience that could be true and this ward seems to be quite chaotic. A friend has just spent a short time in a hospital in Wales and she complained about some of the bad practices on that ward despite there being several staff who were gathered around the nurses' station chatting and laughing. She did make herself rather unpopular as she was not bedbound by alerting them to other patients who were desperately calling for attention.
I was in that same hospital a while ago and both wards were well-run by efficient sisters.
A good ward sister will not allow this to happen.
I realise that there are constraints of finance but that is not the only problem - the story about your DH's medication is an example, causing problems with the ambulance transport and consequences right down the line because a staff member did not act promptly and efficiently.
I hope things improve for your DH

Sorry to hear this Luckygirl and such a worry for you and your family.
As others have said the hospital will look after your husband and now you need to look after yourself.
Pleases remember to eat well and rest and let other family members take over some of the visiting and other things that need doing .
I hope that all goes well with his treatment and recovery .

Oh good God Lucky your post was so difficult to read, I can scarcely believe this is happening in a hospital in this country. Shocking doesn't even begin to describe the appalling treatment your poor DH has been given.

We expect to be cared for in hospital, but 'care' has been severely and completely lacking throughout your DH's stay. That hospital needs to be massively kicked up its proverbial backside. I am really so angry about this - and so scared because we will all need the NHS at some point, and this truly horrific slide into chaos doesn't augur well for any of us.

I also echo Baggs' suggestion that you print off your posts and keep them for future use - you really must file a formal complaint once your DH is safely out of their clutches.

Once DH is settled in his new abode, I agree with others, you must put this catalogue of disaster together and make an appointment to see the Director of Nursing Services or whatever he/she is called nowadays. That ward must not be allowed to continue in its present state.

Please try to not allow DH to lean forward so much because he could dislocate his hip.

I know it is a big ask but I hope you had a night's sleep. Thank goodness your DDs are there.

Lucky,I echo what Baggs and Kitty have said,print your posts off here to put in with any complaint you make.They are a clear diary of a catalogue of appalling treatment.My heart goes out to you and your husband.
I worked in the NHS for most of my working life and the way it has gone from a well oiled machine to an understaffed shambles is heartbreaking.I am so glad you are able to advocate for your husband.Like kitty I wish there was more we could to to help,you.

When he moves to the new place it has to be better . It surely can't get worse.
Is there anyone who can help you?
It doesn't sound even as though the staff are overworked just incompetent. Bad management?
Bring back matron....

Orning lucky and i echo exactly what everyone else has said. Especially what baggs said about printing your posts. This is appalling. I do wish we could do more apart from listen.

Oh, Lucky! That's awful. So sorry. Massive Gransnet hug even though virtual support is not really enough right now.


Print your posts from here and use them in due course. That hospital admin needs pulling up short.

Dear Luckygirl,
I am so very sorry to hear of the appalling care your DH is receiving. To hear of this sort of treatment received under the auspices of the National Health Service is very troubling for the entire population that count on being cared for when injured and ill.
I want you to know that I am thinking of your DH , you and your family all going through this horrendous experience and hoping that he can soon be moved to a kinder, more caring hospital.
I know how stressful this is for all of you and hope he will be able to heal quickly and able to return home soon.
Hugs to you all. ??

Oh Lucky what an awful day you and your poor husband have had. The poor man is recovering from a big operation, suffers from PD, needs drugs - and his care seems to be minimal! Thank goodness you are there to speak on his behalf, but I'd say staff have been negligent and his care has been appalling.

The strain of it all must be incredible. I feel for you. I do hope tomorrow sees your DH moved to better surroundings and his move is without delays and frustrations.

Thinking of you. I do hope you get a good nights sleep and tomorrow is a better day for you both.

I have no words that can make this situation better for your husband lucky, in any case as tuppnce says you don’t need advice now but rather to be cared for yourself. Wishing you a restful night, even if from exhaustion, and sending a wish that tomorrow sees an orderly transfer to a much more caring place along with a huge hug for you and your family.

Oh Lucky my heart goes out to you and your DH. I really hope tomorrow brings more calm and order in the new hospital. Sending huge hugs.

Bless you. What a shocking catalogue of neglect, and how much the poor man is suffering unnecessarily. The new unit has to be better, it surely cannot be worse. Try to get some rest now. Hope he's moved tomorrow. xx

My heart totally goes out to you. This is beyond appalling and when you have recovered from this trauma you MUST take it up with PALS.
I could offer all sorts of advice but what you need now is a hug, some rest and hopefully some peace of mind regarding the future treatment for your DH.
There are no words strong enough to decry this complete shambles- I did experience similar things with my late DH and I too fought, kicked ass and ranted like a harpy on his behalf.
But now you need someone to put their arms round you and help you bear this dreadful burden.

That sounds utterly dreadful and incompetent of the hospital

I really recommend that you call the PALS office (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) located at this hospital and complain about this treatment and demand to be included in future care planning

Oh God, Luckygirl. Your post makes terrible reading. Your poor DH and poor you. You really must complain but I'm sure you won't want to until your OH is safe in a rehab hospital.

I do hope tomorrow is a better day. Try and get some sleep tonight and look after yourself.

Oh my God!!! Something seriously needs to be done about that hospital. You should send that last post of yours to the local paper.

You poor thing. Please get a good night's sleep now.

I have just got back from the hospital - it has truly been a nightmare - the indignities and poor care are legion - I could not even list them - it just goes on and on.

Someone arrived on the ward - a "discharge nurse" - and informed me that he was being discharged today within the next hour to a community hospital for rehab. Just like that! No prior discussion.

I talked with the PD nurse (whom I trust) and she recommended the unit where he is going - about 40 mins from us.

So..........a young man came and took all his medications from his locker. I asked him who he was and he said he was from the pharmacy. Why are you taking his meds? - to organise the ones to take with him. Fine. About half an hour later I went to the nurses' station and he was still there with OH's meds in front of him and laughing and joking with everyone.

And then......the ambulance men arrive and say that they have to take him in the next 15 mins as the unit will not accept patients after 6 pm. Ah...but now it seems he can't go because he has no meds to take with him - they are all in the pharmacy. Right - so I offer to wait for the meds and follow on with them - no, that is not allowed. Ambulance men take pity on us and say they will wait an extra 15 minutes to see if the drugs appear.

In the meantime, because his meds are in the pharmacy along with the drugs card, he misses his PD meds time and no-one seems able to retrieve them so he can actually take what he needs.

So, then I am trying to hold a rigid, trembling man in the chair where he has been put - this continues for more than an hour. He is jack-knifed over in a heap.

We have a long and tense wait for the meds to arrive, while the frustrated ambulance men have a cup of tea. I then see them vanishing down the corridor - trip aborted apparently - does anyone tell us? - not for a very long time.

I then ask that he be put in bed; and that his sacrum be creamed - he was in pain from it. I wait, and I wait and I wait and eventually a lovely HCA comes and says she is trying to get a turn with the hoist; half an hour later she has bagged the hoist, but it takes 2 to operate it. Half an hour later she has both hoist and second person - hooray!

They lug him into bed and place a bottle on his penis with him lying on his side and clinging to the bed rail as he is frightened he is going to fall. He remains like this with me supporting him for half an hour at least, during which time I nip out 3 times to tell them he is in distress and needs help. Eventually they appear and we get him lying comfortably. And then he needs his PD meds - he needs them when he needs them and not when someone is free to try and find them. So another half hour passes whilst these are tracked down and I give them to him.

He has been quite paranoid all day and has a new prescription for a small dose of an anti-psychotic (something he would not want to be taking, I know) - I am utterly convinced that the reason he is in a muddle is partly because of the chaos that surrounds him, but also because he is dehydrated.

I am sorry to ramble on - I am tired and overwrought and have been there nearly all day fighting his corner. What a mess. I just have to hope that the new unit will be better.

Hope ou can get him moved today or asap. It must be awful for all of you- and I feel real sympathy for staff too- as they must be aware and feel bad that the conditions just do not allow them to look after patients properly.

How lucky he is to have you, and the kids, ensuring he does get excellent and loving care- and are all batting for him.

hugs- hope you get some sleep and rest tonight.